Bowling shoe cleaner



March 4, 1969 w. D. EMERSON 3,430,396

BOWLING SHOE CLEANER Filed Oct. 5, 1965 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM 0. 51452.50

BY wr ATTORNEYS United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shoe cleaner, highly desirable for keeping the soles of bowling shoes free and clean of dirt and debris, embodying an article shaped in accordance with a playing member of an athletic game, and carrying an abrasive to remove any form of dirt or debris by hand manipulation.

It is well known that each of a pair of bowling shoes has a different type of sole than the other. For example if a bowler delivers the ball with the right hand, his left shoe is soled with a material that becomes and stays slippery so that he may slide upon that foot when delivering the ball. On the other hand, his right shoe is soled with a non-slippery material since, in most cases, only the toe portion of that shoe will touch the alley during delivery of the ball and the bowler uses the right foot as a brake in the event there is danger of his sliding into contact with the foul line. It is also well known that the condition of the backstretch of a bowling alley frequently changes, that various beverages or particles of food may accidentally be spilled or dropped thereon, there may be traces of wax when the backstretch has been revitalized and there is always a possibility of the bowlers foot picking up some form of debris or dirt. Should the non-slip shoe sole become slippery, or the slippery shoe sole become sticky for any reason, the bowler is distinctly in trouble and not only makes a bad ball delivery but is in danger of bodily injury owing to sudden twisting and strain. It is desirable, therefore, to maintain the soles of bowling shoes clean and in proper condition at all times.

In the past, sandpaper was frequently used to cleanse the sole of a bowling shoe, but such was difficult to carry in the pocket, easily knocked aside if placed upon the ball rack, and subject to being mislaid or otherwise rendered unavailable to the bowler. Further, sandpaper entailed pressure of the fingers with the resultant risk of injury or having the finger become contaminated so that it would stick in the finger hole of the bowling ball.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a bowling shoe cleaner in the form of a device easily carried in the ball bag of the bowler, easily visible so that it is available at all times, and a device which is virtually unbreakable.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a bowling ball cleaner which may be carried by each individual bowler, if so desired, or provided by the proprietor of the bowling establishment and placed in a suitable receptacle on the head of the ball return rack adjacent the alley for use by any and all of the bowlers.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a bowling shoe cleaner which has the overall general appearance of a bowling pin, so that it is not only attractive but blends in symbolically with the surroundings.

A further desideratum of this invention is the provision of a bowling shoe cleaner which embodies an abrasive as the actual cleaning means but which is so constructed as to avoid tearing or undue scratching or other injury to the shoe sole being cleaned.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a bowling shoe cleaner so constructed as to be attractive in ap- 3,430,396 Patented Mar. 4, 1969 "ice pearance, very easily handled and manipulated even when the shoes remain on the feet of the user, and is highly efiicient in operation.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantages of the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a bowling shoe cleaner embodying principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom end view of the structure of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a central vertical sectional view through the structure of FIGURE 1.

As shown on the drawings:

The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention comprises a body, generally indicated by numeral 1, and which is preferably one piece of material such as wood, plastic, or any other suitably material, wood being quite satisfactory. As clearly seen in the drawings, the body is preferably of the general shape of the well known bowling pin, comprising a lower bulbous portion 2 having a longitudinally curvate external surface, and which bulbous portion rests upon a base 3 of reduced diameter. Above the bulbous portion is a part 4 corresponding to the upper part of a ten pin, being of considerably reduced diameter compared to the portion 2, and which is also longitudinally concave in contrast to the convex shape of the part 2, and which upper portion terminates in the customary head 5.

The part 4 functions as a handle for the device and may be smoothed and left natural, provided with a transparent finish, painted, or otherwise decorated. Preferably, the base should be decorated or finished in keeping with the handle.

Around the bulbous part 2 of the ten pin-like body 1 is a surface covering of an abrasive 6, which may be emery, silicone carbide, or granulated particles of any other suitable abrasive. The particles of abrasive may be cementitiously attached direct to the surface of the body 1, or afiixed thereto in any other suitable manner.

In use, it is a simple expedient to grasp the handle 4 of the device and rub the abrasive covered portion against a soiled shoe sole until the foreign material is removed therefrom. The pressure applied during that operation would naturally be in keeping with the character and amount of foreign substance. The abrasive is preferably sufiiciently fine that it cannot tear or scratch the surface of the bowling shoe sole in an objectionable manner, but on the contrary the removal of the foreign substance is accomplished quickly and cleanly. While the shape of the device adds to its attractiveness, that shape also facilitates access to any part of the shoe sole with the abrasive surface while the shoe remains on the foot of the user.

It is also to be noted that the device may be made in various sizes to better accommodate bowling shoes for children, women, and men.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eifected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a bowling shoe cleaner,

a one-piece body of the general shape of a tenpin including a convex curvate bulbous lower portion on which is a slender neck terminating at the top in a head, and

an abrasive of the class of silicon carbide fixedly secured to and covering the bulbous lower portion completely therearound,

said neck and head functioning as a clean and smooth handle,

whereby the user has a positive clean grip on the cleaner and said abrasive covered bulbous portion provides ready access to any part of a bowling shoe.

References Cited 4 2,376,477 5/ 1945 Craven 51-392 X 2,797,536 7/ 1957 Shesler 51393 X OTHER REFERENCES Chadwicks America Cricket Manual: 1873, pp. 4244. Beauty Fashion: May 1958, p. 69.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

D. G. KELLY, Assistant Examiner. 

